15 Date Ideas in Hamilton
Stress, anxiety, nervousness, butterflies and shyness. These are some common symptoms you may experience before going on that big date you courageously asked for.
That’s where I come in. Now I’m no Chris Harrison (i.e. The Bachelorette host) or a dating expert, so please don’t come running to me for relationship advice — but what I can do is give you some really great ideas, places to go and sights to see.
Before you go to any of my recommended spots, you must first get to know the person you are going with, obviously. Not all of these spots will work for everyone and you don’t want to be bringing them somewhere they won’t enjoy — that’s a strikeout in most occasions.
Once you get a good handle on that, you can then proceed. So in no particular order, here is my arsenal of awesome NON-RESTAURANT places to go on a date in Hamilton!
Back to Basics
Adventure Village — Filled with all kinds of fun, entertainment and a dash of competitiveness. Being reasonably priced, Adventure Village has the classics like mini-putt, batting cages, rock climbing and concession food!
Hamilton Sports — If you share a common interest for watching live sports, then you can definitely make an easy choice by watching the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) or the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) live in action. These sporting events are held at Tim Horton’s Field and the First Ontario Centre (formerly Copps Coliseum), respectively.
Starlite Drive In Theatre — While I’m not particularly fond of movies for first dates, the drive-in theatre is a great way to change up the standard movie experience. Located in Stoney Creek, Starlite hosts three different lots with good films in a natural, intimate atmosphere. You’re bound to score some brownie points here but keep it PG!! I can see your windows fogging up.
Ice Cream Dates — These are my all time favourite kind of dates because I literally scream for ice cream. My girlfriend and I always joke around about how humans are made up mostly of water; well it’s a different story with us since we’re made up of ice cream. A few of my favourite ice cream spots are Sprinkles on Top, Panini & Ice Cream, Chocolat on James, Henry Browns Small Batch, Hutches on the Beach, Jax Sweet Shoppe and Biggies Ice Cream. I could go on but we have lots of ground to cover and now I really want ice cream.
Pier 8 — Located on Hamilton’s waterfront, this pier is packed with an array of fun activities all year long. Pier 8 consists of a rink that converts from a roller skating rink in the warmer months to an ice rink in the winter months, Scoops Ice Cream Parlour, Sarcoa Restaurant and Bar, Williams Fresh Cafe, and The Waterfront Grill.
Speed Demons — If you’re looking for a thrill or a little bit of competition then Cameron Speedway, Lakeland Kartway and Hamilton Indoor Go Karts has got you covered. It’s no Indy 500 but they are all a blast and can reach some pretty fast speeds. [Pro tip]: Layer up if you go to Hamilton Indoor Go Karts during the winter season. I had to pry myself out of the kart because I was frozen solid after the race (they provide driving mitts).
Views From The Hammer
Bayfront Park — I love watching the sunset here. It falls so perfectly beyond the horizon of the tree lines and reflects perfectly off the water. The 16 hectares of wandering space includes paved trails, a small sandy beach and lots of grassy space for all sorts of activities.
Waterfront Trail — Super cheesy, but yes I am a sucker for long walks on the beach, with an ice cream cone, obviously. This paved trail goes all the way to Burlington (7.5 km) and can make for a really good date if you both share an interest in exercising or just really like long walks with a pretty view of the water.
Dundas Peak — The trail to reach the top of the peak is literally breath taking. I’m not kidding, I was exhausted getting up that hill! However, the view is generously rewarding and absolutely stunning in the fall.
Gage Park — I find Gage park incredible all year round, but particularly so in the summer and fall. There is a ton of space which is filled with life and laughter. If you want to leave a really good impression, prepare a picnic for your date and then hit up the greenhouse to see the gorgeous plants and flowers.
Waterfalls — Hamilton is well known for being the city of waterfalls with more than 100 waterfalls and cascades; many of which are accessible by the Bruce Trail. Hamilton does an exquisite job of spotlighting these waterfalls by having waterfall illumination nights — an excellent way to make your trip extra special. When visiting these waterfalls, please remember the term “take only pictures and leave only footprints”. It’s important that we do our due diligence as citizens or guests to do the best we can to preserve these natural wonders of our city. The most popular falls (in my opinion) in Hamilton are Webster Falls, Tews Falls and Albion Falls. However, one of my particular favourites is…
Devil’s Punch Bowl — Hosting a 37 metre ribbon waterfall, this view is fascinating but can be quite steep, so be careful. You can also attend ghost walks that cover this landmark and give you all kinds of creepy stories about it. I always found the name ironic since there’s a gigantic illuminated cross sitting atop the falls.
Double Trouble
Serve Ping Pong Bar & Lounge — I can never get enough of this place; it works great as a single date but it’s a real ace as a double date, too. You can play competitive ping pong against the other couple or keep it light-hearted for those less coordinated. Serve has a great social atmosphere, plenty of shareable menu items, leagues, and private rooms if you really want to set the mood right.
Bowling — Although bowling is a real classic date, I always find it more enjoyable with people. Hamilton has quite a few bowling alleys that range from 5 to 10 pin. Splitsville, Mountain Lanes, Skyway Lanes, University Lanes and Sherwood Centre are just a few suggestions. If you are anything like me and let your inner child out from time to time, you’ll be happy to hear that, yes, most of them have glow in the dark bowling.
Escape Rooms — This makes a great double date because it gives you an opportunity to develop team building skills, which I think is critical in a relationship. There are many ways of team building, but I find this way the most engaging. Some good places around Hamilton are Alcatraz Escape Rooms, The Crux Escape Room Inc, Rubix Rooms and Escape Canada. [Pro Tip]: Make sure to call in advance or check out their websites to book a time slot.
Board Games — Now this is something you can just do at home, but if you’re looking to go out and sample from a vast selection of board games, then you will want to check out Mancala Monk Board Game Cafe or Gameopolis. Both locations have hundreds of games to select from along with a food and drink menu. For the role-playing game fans out there, don’t worry I didn’t forget about you. Black Knight Games will take care of you with all kinds of leagues, tutorials and tournaments for all to partake in.
There is a ton of potential ideas for dates and I merely scratched the surface on the possibilities in Hamilton. I hope these suggestions left you with a more confident and comfortable mindset for your next date. Now go out there and show, share and experience an unforgettable time with your bae. I am always looking for new places or things to do with my girlfriend, so if you have any suggestions for me I would love to hear them. You can also explore more options and points of interest at trueresident.com!
